Tubular K Frame Identification

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Beams

Beams

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Hi all,

Trying to help my father-in-law out... a few years ago he picked up a coilover conversion kit for his 1971 Challenger at a swap meet. He’s never quite figured out how it goes together, and it seems like he has some missing parts.

We’ve scoured all the included parts, and the only markings are some Allan American stickers on the shocks. Aldan American has coilover conversion kits, but no 70s Mopar kits, and look like a different style altogether...Wondering/hoping if anyone on FABO can/will recognize what he has.

I have a feeling he got bamboozled. If it is indeed for a Challenger, and we figure out the brand, maybe he can make the kit whole.

Happy to provide more pictures. Thanks in advance!
-Matt

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For starters would be comparing mounting points with what's under the car
 
Looks like the only thing missing is the upper shock mounts, hiem joints, upper ball joints. All parts should be easy to get.

Also need to figure out what rack & pinion fits thoughs mounts
 
^Plus how do you know what ball joints and spindles?^^
 
Most likely K772 upper ball joints they have the bigger studs, you will have to see if they screw into the arms. Spindles, I would try 73 up b-body Satellite that had the screw in lower ball joint K719. It might use K772 on the lower you would have to check. That way you could run stock rotors and calipers.
 
I bet money it is a Magnum force now that you say it.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I certainly trust your judgment, but can you elaborate? Why is Magnum Force stuff garbage?
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If you searched Magnum Force you could probably catch on to what he meant.

They are notorious for super shitty welds, cracking, bad design in the use of inner fenders as a mounting point for coilovers, geometry .....

That unit needs to just go in the dumpster.
 
Magnum Farce is the Harbor Freight of front suspension kits. Their stuff is at the bottom rung of the aftermarket kits which are also a step backwards in durability from a stock torsion bar setup.
MF parts have a bad reliability rep, the customer service sucks, the owner looks like an Aerosmith roadie too.
Abandon this idea.
Bigger torsion bars, Bilstein shocks. Welded in frame connectors, torque boxes and K member seams....BOOM, increased durability, less flex and factory looking for the most part.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I certainly trust your judgment, but can you elaborate? Why is Magnum Force stuff garbage?
Click to expand...

For as long as I can remember they have had fitment issues, bad welds, geometry issues and since they have no shock mounts built in they twist things all up because as we know factory shock mounts aren't designed to carry the weight of the car. They have since come out with a support (extra cost) that is really just a band aid for a poor design. . Have seen complaints about all those things constantly on all different Mopar forums for many many years. I can't believe at this point that they are still in business to be honest.
 
abodyjoe said:
Check out magnum force. Looks like an older set up of theirs They built them that looks similar to that. If it's magnum force trash it. It's garbage. Magnum Force | Mopar Chassis & Suspension

Could be aje too which is really only a race only unit. A, B & E Body Mopar Archives | AJE Suspensions

I'm leaning to magnum force garbage though.
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AGREE , it does look like a mag. force , dont let these guys scare u , most of the bad mouthing is heresay , a few have had problems . I have had one on my 68 fastback for about 10 yrs. , look the welds over good , I also wouldnt run one w/o using a motor plate my self < just me .
The early ones were usually drag race front ends , no akerman in mine , drives great on good roads if ur going to run it on the street like I am , caltrac system doesnt help road manners much either !.
 
I have Magnum Force tubular upper control arms. Been on the car for years. Had the front end aligned and they have been on the car with no problems.
 
I think his plan for this car is a 340 6 pack, coilover, otherwise-bare bones street machine. I like torsion bars. And he likes to do things like serpentine belt conversion on the 440 going into his optioned-out 1970 Challenger R/T restoration. Not always my style, but it’s how/why I ended up with the dart that was more or less rotting in the backyard.

My father-in-law will have to make his own decision—I’ll be sure to suggest some inspecting and additional research before committing. And to @67Dart273 ’s point, it would be extremely prudent to check that what he has will fit his car (if that’s what he decides to do).
 
famous bob said:
AGREE , it does look like a mag. force , dont let these guys scare u , most of the bad mouthing is heresay , a few have had problems . I have had one on my 68 fastback for about 10 yrs. , look the welds over good , I also wouldnt run one w/o using a motor plate my self < just me .
The early ones were usually drag race front ends , no akerman in mine , drives great on good roads if ur going to run it on the street like I am , caltrac system doesnt help road manners much either !.
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There have been multiple failures of the early style Magnum Force K members. Worse than that in my opinion is their customer service, as the guys with failures were generally not supported by MagnumForce.

Some of their other parts are fine, but with HemiDenny and RMS out there I’d never even consider a MagnumForce K member conversion. Especially not an early one.


Ted Carlson said:
I have Magnum Force tubular upper control arms. Been on the car for years. Had the front end aligned and they have been on the car with no problems.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone that had an issue with the tubular UCA’s for the torsion bar suspension. I have a set I bought used, they’re good parts and I didn’t have any issues with them. MagnumForce does sell some decent parts. Their K members were the issue historically, especially that earlier design. Well, and their general lack of customer support. If all you do is point and click something on their website and it happens to be in stock it’s not a big deal. If you need actual customer support, not so much.

With all the other options out there now I’m kinda surprised they’re still around.
 
72bluNblu said:
There have been multiple failures of the early style Magnum Force K members. Worse than that in my opinion is their customer service, as the guys with failures were generally not supported by MagnumForce.

Some of their other parts are fine, but with HemiDenny and RMS out there I’d never even consider a MagnumForce K member conversion. Especially not an early one.




I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone that had an issue with the tubular UCA’s for the torsion bar suspension. I have a set I bought used, they’re good parts and I didn’t have any issues with them. MagnumForce does sell some decent parts. Their K members were the issue historically, especially that earlier design. Well, and their general lack of customer support. If all you do is point and click something on their website and it happens to be in stock it’s not a big deal. If you need actual customer support, not so much.

With all the other options out there now I’m kinda surprised they’re still around.
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I did build a pair of strut rods to help support my lower control arms , and like I said , I dont have the engine setting on the k frame .
I called mg. force a couple of times and got thru and they were helpful to me , and as curtious as anyone else on the phone altho a little hi priced .
I would buy a hemi deny`s if I didnt have to change to a tie rod tube pan tho . " I dont like center sumped , or front supmed pans !"
Altho u cant buy one for $1900 shipped , like I did back then!
 
From memory (I take pills for this).... looks like the CAP conversion to me. CAP designed it to use the OEM/ Mopar spindles, Moog 772 style screw in ball joints and a Pinto rack. Qa1 bought CAP and shelved the design / product.

just my thinking, hope it helps.
 
HemiDenny said:
From memory (I take pills for this).... looks like the CAP conversion to me. CAP designed it to use the OEM/ Mopar spindles, Moog 772 style screw in ball joints and a Pinto rack. Qa1 bought CAP and shelved the design / product.

just my thinking, hope it helps.
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Oh good call, you might be right. CAP is even worse than MagnumForce though, they had multiple failures and weren’t even around that long.
 
after further thought / review, I think abodyjoe might be right.
 
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